Extensible metal watch strap



MMMMMMM ON Fig. 25 8 I@ 'A 'm Feb. 24, 1970 M. zALTRoN EXTENSIBLE METAL WATCH STRAP 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1966 INVENTOR MARIO ZALTRON Feb. 24, 1970 M. ZALTRON EXTENSIBLE METAL WATCH STRAP 4 Sheets-Sheet` 5 Filed May 20, 1966 INVENTOR MARIO ZALTRON WW W ML'IMNEYS Feb. 24, 1970 M. ZALTRON 33196,',19

EXTENSIBLE METAL WATCH STRAP Filed May 20, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F gJ 7 F l'g. 78 F [9.79 F ig.20 F /'g.27

Fig 22 INVENTOR MARIO ZALTRON MZMNEYS Unite States 3,496,719 EXTENSIBLE METAL WATCH STRAP Mario Zaltron, Via Panizza 30, Vicenza, Italy Filed May Z0, 1966, Ser. No. 551,601 Claims priority, application Italy, Dec. 1, 1965, 27,074/ 65 Int. Cl. F16g 13/00 U.S. Cl. 59-79 8 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The present invention concerns an extensible elastic metal strap usable as a watchband. The strap is formed of elastic members disposed transversely of the axis of the strap, having substantially four points of connection, preferably loose, with the adjacent transverse members, disposed in doubly alternate positions on the sides 0f the strap, both relative to the principal planes of the strap itself and to the lateral planes thereof.

As is well known, the problem of providing an elastic metal strap which has visibly uniform surfaces affording the possibility of obtaining various decorative effects, together with substantial and smooth extensibility, has been difficult to solve.

Among others, an extensible metal strap has been proposed, comprising spiral members in the form of a gure 8 presenting a curvature in their axial direction, which members are connected to the adjacent symmetrical members, within the turns of kwhich are inserted the turns of the aforementioned member, remaining connected thereto by means of pivoting members inserted between the interlaced turns, alternately in two parallel planes.

The above solution offers the possibility of providing metal straps with great extensibility and smooth elasticity which, however, on account of the curvature of their surface, may cause discomfort to people wearing them. These straps also do not offer perfect planarity of their external surface, particularly in the position of extension, making it diflicult to provide special decorative effects thereon. Furthermore, the coiled members are subjected to bending stresses during the extension of the strap, which makes it necessary to employ suflciently large thicknesses of metal for the purpose of obtaining a suiciently elastic reaction force, also corresponding to a limited degree of curvature of the transverse member.

According to the present invention there is provided an extensible elastic metal strap, with transverse metal members subjected to torsion, connected together at doubly alternating points. The members are located transversely of the axis of the strap and connected to the adjacent members by means of preferably loose connecting means. My invention is characterised by the feature that each transverse member is adapted to be connected at one end to the adjacent preceding member and to the following adjacent member at the opposite with the strap retaining, both relative to its width and to its thickness, points resting in two parallel planes. The transverse member is elastically stressed in torsion, during the extension of the strap, but retains a plane form even in extension.

Of course, the various embodiments of the strap, based on the above described concept, may be varied, in particular in the specific shapes given to the transverse memers forming the strap. Similarly, the methods of interconnecting the adjacent members may assume many different forms according to the practical requirements conditioned by the type of transverse member employed. Possible covering members may be adopted, in special cases whenever the opportunity arises, for example, for obtaining special decorative effects.

All these various forms of construction employing the same concept of the present invention, may be comprised within the scope of the present invention. For example, the transverse member may be formed of a simple elastic strip, of substantially rectangular shape, which is connected to the adjacent elements, by suitable connecting means, disposed to correspond with the angles of the strip. In the course of the extension of the strap, the strips are deformed, being substantially subjected to torsion.

The ideal plane in which the longitudinal symmetrical axes of the strips are disposed remains the same whatever the degree of extension of the strap.

A few embodiments, such as, for example, the one described above, may not have a sufciently attractive appearance. In this case, the above elastic extensible strap Will be preferably covered with covering members, displaceable or otherwise, one on the other, fixed by suitable means to the transverse members of the strap and provided, if desired, with surface decorations.

This embodiment is extremely simple in outline and is indicated in particular to facilitate comprehension of the other embodiments which will be subsequently described. Transverse members, similar in design to the one described above, may be obtained, for example, by using small rods having different sections and, if desired, formed of composite members. In all these cases, the transverse members are simply disposed adjacent to each other and not interlaced.

In other embodiments of the strap, spiral-shaped transverse members may be used. They may have an ovoid section or with a figure S-Shaped section, the turns of which penetrate into the spaces between the adjacent turns of the continuous elements, being connected thereto for example by short pivot members inserted in the end turns of the transverse members which are interlaced. The pivot points are doubly alternate both in respect to the principal plane of the strap and in respect to the sides thereof.

In this case also, the transverse members are subjected to torsion in the course of the extension of the strap. In the above mentioned cases, the strap may have the attractive appearance of a fabric, the visible surfaces of which do not need particular covering members and can be directly subjected to decoration, for example, by engraving with a diamond point or the like. Similarly, the section of the spiral members may assume various forms, for example, a wire of circular cross section may also be used or a strap of 'rectangular cross section, still within the scope of the present invention.

The connecting members between the adjacent spirals may be simply formed of segments of wire, acting as a pivot, introduced into the first interlaced turns of the adjacent members and provided with devices adapted to prevent unintentional disconnection thereof. The pivot may, for example, be provided with a slight bend preventing detachment. The connecting members may obviously also assume various forms according to requirements. The transverse members will be preferably provided with a permanent deformation so as to cause initial tension therein even when unextended, this arrangement permitting them to remain in positions of contact with each other when the strap is not in tension and also prevents the connecting members from becoming inadvertently detached. Another feature of the straps according to the invention consists in the facility of being able to remove some members, a feature which permits elongation or shortening of the strap. In order to facilitate such an operation, it is possible to provide connecting pivots in the form of U-shaped members, each of which connects two adjacent journals. This feature of facilitating the control of the length is particularly valuable if the strap is intended for Wristwatches.

In the various possible forms of the invention, the transverse members may be obtained also by cutting and stamping out, in this manner being capable of assuming very ditferent forms.

The common feature of all the possible embodiments of the invention is the connecting system of the continuous transverse members in doubly alternate positions and their torsion stressing for the extension of the strap. It is also possible to provide a strap by means of transverse elements formed by portions of Milanese fabric (a wellknown metal fabric). The loose connecting points of the adjacent transverse members, in this case may be pivoted or intermeshing.

Recently, it has been possible to obtain multiple straps in which the transverse members are repeated two or more times, either in the thickness of the strap or in the width thereof.

All these possible embodiments come `Within the scope of the present invention. The present invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the strap employing transverse component members formed by simple rectangular strips of elastically deformable material;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show two transverse members having a double spiral, on the right and left respectively, in front views of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the transverse members of a third embodiment of the invention, in front views;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of a spiral member having an ovoid cross section, of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a transverse member, a gure S-Shaped spiral of a fifth embodiment similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 8 shows a possible embodiment of the connecting journal of the transverse members of the strap;

FIG. 9 shows a second possible embodiment of the same connecting journals;

FIG. l shows a portion of a strap formed by means of the transverse members mentioned in FIG. 7 in the resting position;

FIG. 1l shows schematically a portion of the strap similar to that in FIG. 10, in the extended position, limited to one of its parallel surfaces;

FIG. 12 is a length of a strap similar to that shown in FIGS. and 1l, viewed in perspective;

FIG. 13 shows schematically a sixth embodiment of the strap in the resting position;

FIG. 14 shows the same type of strap as in FIG. 13, in the extended position;

FIGS. 15 and 16 show two possible embodiments of the connecting journals of the strap as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIGS. 17, 18, 19, 2O and 2l represent various other possible embodiments of the transverse member of the strap;

FIG. 22 shows some surface covering members of the strap;

FIG. 23 is a side view of the transverse member having a double spiral shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 24 is a side view of the transverse member having a double spiral shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 25 is a side view of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 26 is a side view of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 27 is a perspective View of a spiral member having an ovoid cross section, of a fourth embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 28 is a perspective View of a transverse member, a figure 8 shaped spiral of a fifth embodiment similar t0 that shown in FIG. 7.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. l, the transverse members are formed by simple rectangular plates 1, of resiliently deformable material, which are connected to the adjacent elements, by means of the connecting members 2, 3, 4 and 5, the positions of which are doubly alternating, both in respect of the Width of the strap and in respect of its thickness. The transverse members 1 may also assume when fully stretched, a perfectly plane form, corresponding to the position of maximum shortness of the Strap and are subjected to torsion and, hence, elastically deformed when the strap is elongated. Even ywhen corresponding to any degree of extension of the strap, the longitudinal symmetrical axes of the transverse members continue to remain in the same plane. This embodiment of the invention constitutes one of the simplest or most easily understood forms of application of the basic concept of the present invention.

Naturally, other embodiments may also be assumed by the transverse members of the strap, as may the connecting means with the adjacent members, and still remain within the scope of the present invention.

In particular, the transverse members may be constructed in double spirals, on the left 6 (FIG. 2) and on the right 7 (FIG. 3) respectively, formed by sections alternately disposed at the top and bottom each of which with one or more turns, or by spiral elements having an 8-shaped cross section, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the members 8 and 9 are 0n the right and left, respectively.

In other practical embodiments of the invention, the transverse members may be constructed in the form of spirals having an ovoid cross section 10 on the right and 11 on the left, respectively (FIG. 6), or in the form of an elongated figure 8, 12 on the right and 13 on the left, respectively (FIG. 7), in torsion.

In all the cases illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 7, the spiral transverse members are connected to the adjacent members, by inserting one or more end turns of each spiral in the intermediate spaces between the adjacent spirals of the continuous member. The connection is ensured by short studs or journals 14 (FIG. 8), provided with a slight intermediate curvature which prevents unintentional detachment thereof, if desired, connected two by two, as for example shown in FIG. 9, in which case they form a member 15 in the form of a U and comprising a pair of studs which are introduced into the ends of the same transverse member to connect it to the two continuous members disposed on the opposed sides and provided with a slight curvature on at least one of the two journals of which it is formed. The spirals forming the transverse members of the strap may be formed by means of a simple wire of circular cross section, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 or by a rectangular plate as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 or such having various cross sections.

In all these embodiments and in the others derived therefrom, each transverse member, such as for example the member 16 (FIG. l0), is connected respectively t0 the adjacent member 17 on the right and the adjacent member 18 on the left on the opposed sides of the strap, for example, by means of the studs 19 and 20. This is on the upper surface of the strap, while, on the lower surface, the same member 16 (FIG. 12) is connected to the element 18 on the left and the element 17 on the right by means of the stud 21 and the stud 22. All the connecting studs therefore become disposed in two superimposed parallel planes which planes tend to approach each other when the strap is extended, as shown sche matically in FIG. ll. Each transverse member in this case is subjected to torsion stressing, undergoing elastic deformations which, by reaction, cause a return force which tends to return the strap to the resting position (FIG.

If, during manufacture each transverse member is initially tensioned, by means of permanent deformation in the opposite direction, perfect contact is achieved between the adjacent members when in the resting position, preventing the connecting journals from becoming unintentionally detached from their respectives seats. In another set of embodiments of the invention, the transverse member 23 (FIG. 13), may be formed, for example, by a figure S-shaped section, constituted by two parallel tubes 24 and 25, connected together by a centre core, the connecting members 26 being formed, for example (FIG. by a plate bearing on the same side two parallel journals 27 and 28, or by a simple metal plate 29 (FIG. 16) bent U-shaped and subsequently bent in at the ends which in this case can engage in the recesses formed at the sides in the tubes 24 and 25. In this case also, the connecting devices 26 (FIG. 13) are disposed doubly alternating, both in the width of the strap and in the thickness thereof, compelling the transverse members 23 to become deformed as shown in FIG. 14, being subjected to torsion stressing. This case also has been described, particularly for the purpose of simplifying the understanding of the invention, it being possible to actuate the transverse members, according to various embodiments still within the scope of the present invention. Some of these embodiments are shown in FIGS. 17-2l. In FIG. 17 the member 30 is obtained by a spiral having turns in close contact, flattened in the centre and enlarged at the end in two parallel tubes.

In FIG. 18, the transverse member is formed by two parallel tubes 31 and 32, cut along a generating line and connected to each other by means of the shaped member 33 having a double T cross section.

The transverse member shown in FIG. 19 is formed of two shapes having an approximately S-shaped crosssection, 34 and 35 respectively, interengaging longitudinally by the eye having a smaller radius of curvature; a transverse member as shown in FIG. is formed by two tubular members 36 and 37, open along a generating line and connected by means of the slips 38.

The transverse member 21 is obtained by cutting and stamping out and is formed by a plate 39, provided with transverse strips alternately folded over on each side 40 and 41 respectively for the purpose of forming opposing eyes, the alignment axes of which are parallel to each other.

It is obvious that numerous other embodiments of the transverse members may be formulated, both if the connection between the adjacent elements is obtained for interlacing, giving the strap the superficial appearance of a fabric, and if the adjacent members are simply disposed side by side in the position of rest. j

In every case the extensible strap may be subjected to surface ornamentation, directly on the transverse members of which it is composed, for example, by a diamond point or the like, or may be provided with a series of surface covering members, displaceable one upon the other as, for example, shown in FIG. 22 where the inner members 42 and the outer members 43 are secured to some of the transverse members of the extensible strap by suitable means.

In other embodiments the cover members may be of the telescopic type in which case completely enclosing the extensible strap which is no longer visible externally. The advantages which are obtained by the use of the strap of the present invention are obvious and are due to the fact that, while reserving for the strap the properties of great extensibility and smooth elasticity associated with an elastic fabric together with long life and reliable operation associated with an extensible metal strap, these properties already associated with the strap and mentioned in the preamble of the present description, other and new features of great advantage are obtained, There is the possibility of producing particular decorative and attractive effects on the visible surfaces, good nish and protection for the ends of the transverse members which form the sides of the strap, apart from the particular feature of the retention of the plane form of the surface on which are disposed the symmetrical axes of the transverse members.

Another very important advantage obtained by the use of the strap of the present invention consists in `the readiness with which the transverse members of which it is formed may be dismantled, a feature which is particularly convenient for example' if the strap is used for a wristwatch, the length of which must be adapted to the Wrist of the wearer.

A further advantage is due to the possibility of appreciably decreasing the dimensions both of the width and thickness of the strap, a feature which makes it possible to produce therewith extensible straps for ladies watches.

What I claim is:

1. An extensible elastic metal strap including a series of adjacent transverse torsion members located transversely of the axis of the strap, said transverse members being connected at the ends thereof to said adjacent preceding member and to said adjacent following member at alternate ends, said strap having both relative to its width and to its thickness, connecting members disposed in two parallel planes, whereby said transverse members will be elastically stressed in torsion during the extension of the strap with said strap retaining a plane form even in extension.

2. An extensible elastic metal strap as claimed in claim 1 in which said transverse torsion members of the strap are plates of a substantially rectangular shape connected with said adjacent members at the corners thereof, successively on one side and the other proceeding along the perimeter of the plate.

3. An extensible elastic metal strap as claimed in claim 1 in which said transverse torsion members are connected to vsaid adjacent members alternately on one side and the other both with reference to width of the strap and relative to its thickness, said adjacent members being side by side in the position of rest of the strap and being deformed, by torsion stressing when said strap is extended.

4. An extensible elastic metal strap as claimed in claim 1 in which each said transverse torsion member of the strap is shaped to define pairs of parallel tubes in a position of rest, and adjacent said tubes are connected at the ends thereof.

5. An extensible elastic metal strap as claimed in claim 1 in which said transverse torsion members of the strap are formed by spiral elements and in which at least some of the turns of said spiral elements of one said member are pivotally secured in the spaces between at least some of the Iturns of said spiral elements of an adjacent said members at doubly alternating pivot points, both relative to'the width and to the thickness of the strap, whereby said extensible metal strap has the appearance of a fabric.

6. An extensible elastic metal strap as claimed in claim 5, including journals and in which the pivoted engagement of said torsion members is effected by said journals interlaced within the said spiral elements of said adjacent transverse members and said journals interengaging with sid elements to prevent unintentional detachment thereo 7. An extensible elastic metal strap as claimed in claim 5 including U-shaped elements, and in which the respective ends of said U-shaped elements interengage said spiral elements of said adjacent transverse members.

8. An extensible watchband including a plurality of torsional members, each said member having a pair of longitudinal openings therein, said members being trans- 7 8 verse to said strap and aligned adjacent to one another, References Cited means for pivotally interconnecting one end of one said FOREIGN PATENTS opening of each said torsional member with the respective end of said opening in the preceding adjacent said tor- 1,313,180 11/1962 Francesional member, and means for pivotally interconnecting 113191617 1/1963. Franthe other end of said opening of each. said torsional 5 17,074 9/1901 Grat Entammember with the respective adjacent end of said opening 358,613 1/1962 swltzerlandof the following said torsional member, whereby said torsional members form an integral unit capable of stretch- CHARLES W' LANHAM Primary Exammer ing vupon torsional stressing of said members relative to 10 G. P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner one another. 

